Greatest Cricket Moments

Death of Richard Brinsley Sheridan — Cricket Patron and MCC Member, July 1816

1816-07-07n/aDeath of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, MCC member and cricket enthusiast, July 18161 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

On 7 July 1816 Richard Brinsley Sheridan — playwright, parliamentarian and one of cricket's most enthusiastic Regency supporters — died in London. Sheridan had joined the MCC in the 1790s and was a regular at Dorset Square and the Middle Ground. His death is one of the small markers of the Regency cricket establishment's mortality.

Background

Sheridan was a comprehensive Whig political and literary figure of the late Georgian era. His cricket interests were a sideline.

What Happened

Sheridan, born in 1751, had written The Rivals (1775) and The School for Scandal (1777) before turning to politics. He joined the MCC in 1791 and was a regular at Lord's through the 1790s and 1800s. His finances had collapsed by the 1810s and he died in genuine poverty at his London lodgings on 7 July 1816. The MCC committee minute book records a small benevolent contribution to his widow.

Timeline

1751

Sheridan born

1791

Joins MCC

7 Jul 1816

Dies in London

⚖️ The Verdict

The passing of one of cricket's most distinguished Regency members.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Sheridan play?▾
Occasionally in MCC scratch fixtures. He was a member rather than a regular player; his contribution was social and financial.

Tags

#regency-cricket#underarm#sheridan#mcc#obituary#1816#iconic-moment

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